A Council can create a by-law as part of the Local Government Act.
A by-law is a local law made by a council to manage issues and needs within their specific community.
While councils have many responsibilities under state legislation, a by-law allows a council to tailor rules to their local circumstances.
A by-law must relate to a council’s official functions and powers. It only applies within that council’s boundaries and automatically expires 10 years after it is made, unless the by-law state and earlier expiration date.
As part of this process to create a by-law, the council must release a draft of the proposed by-law and a formal statement explaining its impact for public consultation (called a regulatory impact statement), allowing community members to provide feedback before it is formally adopted.